Stray cats of Thailand

Wherever I go I'm on the lookout for cats. Whether I'm out walking my dog, visiting friends' houses or exploring a new city. It's a joy to meet a new feline and when those four little paws and whiskers come trotting into the scene I'm distracted from whatever else it was I was doing.

Recently I visited Thailand. It's a fantastic country and I had an amazing time. There are so many interesting things to see and the Thai people were incredibly friendly and welcoming. I'll be writing a post on my trip very soon, but first I wanted to celebrate some of the wonderful strays that brought an extra special smile to my face each and every day.

The most common hangout seemed to be the temples, where these masters of charm could delight visitors like me, who can't resist a cute little ginger, tabby or tortoiseshell. Here they tended to be more confident, used to seeing crowds of people on a daily basis. Elsewhere you might spot a lazy cat basking in the afternoon sunshine on a shop step, or a pair of shiny eyes peeping out from behind a car.

One thing is certain. In the three cities I visited - Bangkok, Chiang Mai and Phuket - the street cats of Thailand were a firm favourite with locals and tourists alike, no more so than with me.